Welcoming everybody to Bill Gray's retirement dinner last Friday night, Terra Nova principal Doreen Bausino, kiddingly said, "Sitting around the dinner table with my dad (Bob Lotti)when I was a student at Terra Nova, and him talking about the two playing against each other over the years, I thought Coach Gray's first name was 'that son-of-a-bitch Gray'."

Well, certainly after 42 years of teaching/coaching at both Oceana and Terra Nova there is nobody in Pacifica who does not know the name Bill Gray. He has become an icon in the community, a person who has changed the lives of so many young men and women.

The theme at the retirement dinner could have well been 'how this man changed my life', as illustrated by Jefferson Union High School District Superintendent Tom Minshew, giving an example of students who credit Gray for their success.

"Mr. Gray was my best teacher; he changed my life; I was on a different path until Coach Gray talked with me. These comments tell you everything you want to know about Coach Gray. He literally has touched the lives of our young students," said Minshew, who worked with Gray, both as a teacher and Terra Nova principal. "He's one of the best teachers I've ever know."

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For 42 years, Gray has coached thousands of athletes at Pacifica's two high schools. Since walking into Oceana, a school he had never heard of, in 1972, to exiting a school which earlier in his coaching career he called an arch rival, Terra Nova, he now makes another move — retirement.

More than 200 former students, teachers, coaches and parents gathered at the Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco to express their best wishes to him on his retirement. Former JUSHD Superintendent and Oceana principal Mike Crilly questioned Gray on his retirement, saying, "Several years ago, he made a promise to me that if we would build a new athletic field at Terra Nova, he would give the District 10 more years. I'm not a math teacher, but even I can figure out he owes us a few more years on his commitment."

"Early in his teaching at Oceana, he was a science teacher. When he went to the PE Department, he became a legend in Pacifica. All of us know stories about Bill in the 70s and 80s, such as sleeping in the Oceana locker room overnight; and those are true," said Crilly. "But, more importantly, Bill was a promoter, not a show-type promoter, but if you look up the word in the dictionary you will see it means growth, development. There have been lots of students, and adults, who have been the benefactor of work he has done. He has changed the lives of many people."

"You've had a great ride, Bill. Thank you for everything you've done for our schools and students," added Crilly. "I hope you find out what I did about retirement. It's not all that it's cracked up to be; it's just so much better."

"Coach Gray has gone above and beyond in helping the Booster Club," said Terra Nova Booster Club president Michela Genato Christensen. "He's always helping everybody. He wears so many hats; he's the coach, the athletic director, he was an educator for many years, he's the sports historian, he's in charge of the fireworks program. He's done everything."

"He inspires the athletes. He's always pushing them to achieve greatness both on and off the field, especially in the classroom. He tells the athletes, education comes first and that they should strive to be better students," she added. "We wanted to honor him in some special way. Every year the Booster Club gives a scholarship to two varsity athletes. We have decided to re-name the award the 'Coach Bill Gray Student-Athlete Award'. "

City Councilman Mike O'Neill announced to the audience that the City Council recently honored Gray with a special proclamation for his years of service to the community.

Sisters Andy Gabin and Pat Butler, both active in the Oceana Booster Club when their children were in school, represented the many mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and foster mothers who came in contact with Gray.

"We appreciate everything you have done over the years for our sons and daughters that you coached, taught and counseled, and there were hundreds," they said, asking for a 'Standing O' for everybody whose life Gray has touched.

Playing to a standing room, Gray said, "I thought this day would never come, but you can't beat the clock. I regret this moment, but at the same time I'm enjoying the hell out of it."

Joining Gray at the dinner were two former Clayton Valley High School friends, his football coach Chappie Lisle, and football teammate Mickey Wharton. Flying in from South Dakota was Gray's girl friend, Sharon Oliveira, who will have Gray sitting in the seat next to her on her return air flight to South Dakota.

"My speech tonight is on being fortunate and having a wonderful life experience. I think I'm the most fortunate man on the planet," said Gray, taking a second to regain his composure. "My mother raised me as my dad died when I was two. When things got tough, she would kick me in the behind and tell me not to give up. I went to Clayton Valley High School. There I learned how to stick with things."

"Playing football at Clayton Valley, I had great coaches, teachers and teammates. I couldn't have had a better experience. The other person I met there was Sharon," stated Gray, who later attended Diablo Valley Junior College and San Francisco State University. At SFSU he experienced a life-lasting career change.

"This sounds strange, but I was fortunate enough in my first year of playing football to get hurt. Coach (Vic) Rowan, at that point, asked if I would help coach the freshman team. I had never thought about coaching. I wanted to be an architect. I started this coaching thing and immediately fell in love with it."

At SFSU, Gray met two people who would later play a major role in his career.

"I played football with Ed Larios. He was a fabulous player and later a coach. The other person was Jack Burgett. He asked me to help coach the freshman football team. That's when I got hooked on coaching. I decided this is what I wanted to do, so I got into student-teaching," said Gray.

"I was assigned to this school called Oceana. I didn't know where it was, not being familiar with Pacifica. I got out a map. We didn't have GPS in those days," said Gray, smiling. "I drove to Pacifica to start my student teaching, and who's coaching there? Ed Larios! Ed made me feel at home right away, and I really appreciated his support."

"Oceana had a great administration staff, good teachers and great supportive families — the Piccolottis, McNichols, Mercurios, Gabins and others that I'm missing right now, but it was one athlete after an athlete, a great kid after a great kid. I was so fortunate," added Gray, who eventually took over as head football coach, following Larios.

Gray's 1987 football team won the Central Coast Section championship.

"I was extremely fortunate to run across the path of John Gradwahl. He had a great defensive mind. He put together a great defense that helped us win the first ever Oceana football championship," said, Gray, applauding Gradwahl who was in attendance.

"Then there was wrestling. Jess Jones asked me to coach wrestling. I wrestled in high school for two years. I got pinned for 17 consecutive matches. I'm coming home whining and my mother would tell me to go back," laughed Gray. "I didn't know what I was doing. I went to the Oceana library and got a book on wrestling. I didn't know what to do, but eventually we started winning and I thought 'this is cool'. I liked it."

He certainly did like it. His teams won 12 league championships, nine CCS titles and one Northern California championship.

It was while coaching the semi-pro Outlaws that Gray and Terra Nova football coach Mike Gunning developed a friendship. "Mike was an excellent coach. I asked him to help coach the Outlaws," said Gray. At one point the team won 33 consecutive games. That was a national record at the time.

Gray and Gunning would soon hook up again to coach. In 1992, Oceana closed. Gray had a choice of schools to teach. He was offered a job at Westmoor or Terra Nova.

"I know my choosing of Terra Nova made people mad as Oceana and Terra Nova were arch rivals," said Gray, smiling, "The reason I chose Terra Nova was that I just didn't want to leave the City of Pacifica. The town had been so supportive of me and Oceana."

At Terra Nova, Gunning was head football coach with Gray taking an assistant position. Gunning had succeeded Bob Lotti. Lotti and Gray had been fierced opponents in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Pointing at Bausino, Gray said, laughing "what was that name your dad called me? "Son-of-a-B!"

"It's interesting how arch rivals can work together, not just co-exist, but work together in a wonderful way," said Gray. "I still remember when I was named head coach at Terra Nova, replacing Mike. I asked Bob 'what do you think?' I was nervous. I had sat in those Terra Nova stands. I heard what people said about me. I asked Bob 'do you think this is going to work?' He put my mind at easy, saying 'Bill, I've observed you from a distance and everybody that comes through your program, football or wrestling, is better because of it.' I went 'wow', we can do this. And we did."

Gray closed out the dinner, complimenting the attendees.

"A lot of people have congratulated me on my retirement. That's hard to understand. In fact, you should be congratulating each other on your remarkable accomplishments, whether it be football, wrestling, semi-pro football or even on the golf team. It is me who should be thanking you for your support and your efforts. That's what defines a great career. It's because of you, my life is so enjoyable and so special," said Gray.

"I look at it this way," continued Gray. "I provided the canvas and all of you were the artists. When you look at such a small school, small community, an unending parade of great athletes, great people, and the end result of that is how successful you are. I had very little to do with it. I just created the canvas; you did all the art work. That's something we all can take pride of and remember for a very long time. So, onward. You'll do what you want to do; I'll enjoy what I want to do; it will just be somewhere else, and I'll spend a lot more time with Sharon. How fortunate am I, lucky enough to find a woman who let me do this insanity for 40 years."

Gray's preliminary plans are to leave Pacifica in June and join Sharon in South Dakota. There are some people, taking bets on if he really will stay retired. Whatever road he takes, Coach Bill Gray will be forever remembered in for his achievements.

Tony Byers, who played for Gray at Oceana, captured the feeling of so many athletes at the dinner with his comment, "Bill Gray was a leader, mentor, life saver, positive role model, and true inspirational leader to me. I cannot express in words the honor and warmth in my heart that I felt to be able to witness and share in Coach Gray's retirement."

Following the program, more than 30 former Oceana graduates gathered on stage to pose with Gray. It certainly was a night to reminisce with so many former outstanding student-athletes from both Terra Nova and Oceana.

A big appreciation goes to Perin, science teacher at Terra Nova, who orchestrated the retirement diner.